Well this is my first post here, and it's fitting that it's for Simon Phillips. I've been a fan of his for a long time. He's got such an amazing sound, and the stuff he comes up with for timekeeping is really creative. I've got his videos and recently picked up the live force majeur cd. Geat stuff !

I'm sorry to hear that he stripped the octobans for the new tour. That was one of my favourite elements of his kit.

Robin, nice work posting all those clips of him. No we're not getting tired of them, so keep em comin

While I never considered that he was trying to be Jeff, I thought that he was trying to be true to the songs which was obvious in the rest of the songs that he played But for some unknown reason, he did not do the shuffle to Rosanna, which confuses me and confounds me because I'm sure he can do it. And of course it is the signature sound to that song. The fact that he did not play at while he did the rest of the songs The same the way Jeff did still confuses me.
PS I knew he did not answer the questions it was purely rhetorical.
I have yet to get a satisfactory answer from any drummer I've talked to. The only conclusion I can come to, which was seen to be impossible. Is that he actually can't play that shuffle.
Of course we know he can, or it would seem improbable that he cannot.
Therefore, the question still remains, why did he not reproduce the shuffle. When he played Rosanna live with toto?

Just thought I'd share my opinion...
I saw Toto live last summer and they were mind-blowing. The concert was outdoors, and the quality of sound was unreal. Simon's drum set was simply the greatest I have ever heard live. Even Rush (who I am not knocking, they are one of my favorite bands) didn't sound that good outdoors. I particularly loved the way Simon's bass drum sounded. Props to Simon and Toto's amazing Tech crew!

Well, Simon isn't trying to be Jeff, he has his own style and makes the song his own. That's problaby why.

Indeed, Toto became interested in Philips sice Jeff loved his style. Somewhere Simon said he wasnt going to copy Jeff, he was going to play in his own syle, the one Jeff liked. I think Jeff told the Toto guys that if someday he left the band, Simon was a good replacement. But still, I think think Simon is ver overated.

If you like over-the-top slamming rock stuff, get Derek Sherinian's (ex-Dream Theater) solo CDs. Simon plays on "Inertia", "Black Utopia", "Mythology" and "Blood Of The Snake". They're all good but I'd say "Black Utopia" is the best of the bunch, followed by "Inertia".

Steve Lukather from Toto is on them too, along with guys like Yngwie, Zakk Wylde, Allan Holdsworth and Al Di Meola! Great stuff.

While I never considered that he was trying to be Jeff, I thought that he was trying to be true to the songs which was obvious in the rest of the songs that he played But for some unknown reason, he did not do the shuffle to Rosanna, which confuses me and confounds me because I'm sure he can do it. And of course it is the signature sound to that song. The fact that he did not play at while he did the rest of the songs The same the way Jeff did still confuses me.
PS I knew he did not answer the questions it was purely rhetorical.
I have yet to get a satisfactory answer from any drummer I've talked to. The only conclusion I can come to, which was seen to be impossible. Is that he actually can't play that shuffle.
Of course we know he can, or it would seem improbable that he cannot.
Therefore, the question still remains, why did he not reproduce the shuffle. When he played Rosanna live with toto?

He did not play it like Jeff becasue that is what the guys in Toto wanted. They wanted him to stay true to the music but play it his style, not Jeff's. This is what was told to me firsthand from Toto's tour Martin Cole. We had a very long discussion after a Toto show a couple of years ago.

JP's right here, gang.
In fact...there's an interview somewhere online of a Mr. Legarde interviewing Luke (four or five days after Jeff's memorial service) and Luke said that they wanted simon to rip it up.
Which is what he's done for 16 years. To make it his own thing. They did NOT want someone to come in sounding like Jeffrey....because nobody but Jeff could sound like Jeff.

ps: AMAZING slideshow of Simon up on the front page. Was this put together from one clinic or several? There's some great angles on the Phillips.

T

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPDrum

He did not play it like Jeff becasue that is what the guys in Toto wanted. They wanted him to stay true to the music but play it his style, not Jeff's. This is what was told to me firsthand from Toto's tour Martin Cole. We had a very long discussion after a Toto show a couple of years ago.

I just watched the Live Toto DVD 'Falling In Between'. Jeff is greatly missed, but they could not of found a better replacement. Simon has the tastiest licks and I believe plays Toto's music just how Jeff would have wanted. Lee Sklar and Simon gettin' it!

Simon is in fact far more than just a replacement drummer. He's with Toto for a long time now and is responsible for producing some of their latest CDs (Falling in Between has been recorded in his own studio).
Simon isthe only one along with Steve Lukather touring with Toto since Jeff's dead. Bobby came back later, Mike wasn't on the last tour, same for Paich.

IMO a thread about Simon Phillips isn't complete without mentioning his work on 801 Live with Phil Manzanera and Brian Eno.

His power, energy, tightness and speed was awesome on East of Asteroid (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39eHgk5b1Ek) from that album, which was a mashup of Phil's East of Echo and Quiet Sun's Mummy Was an Asteroid, Daddy Was a Small Non-Stick Kitchen Utensil (yes, that's what it was called :)

It's hard not to like a guy who can not only do the "herd of stampeding elephants" double kick thing and super smooth grace notes.

As a side note, Quiet Sun was an experimental project of Phil M's while he was still with Roxy and featured the excellent Charles Hayward on kit and Bill McCormack on bass.

Also worth mentioning his work with Lukather on Los Labottomy's. A bit of fun muso rock but probably the catylist for Simon joining Toto after Jeff''s departure. Worth a google. A few good vids out there.

Neither solo really does much for me. I've never been a big fan of "arena solos". I use the term "arena solo" because they are geared more to an arena of screaming fans that don't know the first thing about playing drums but LOVE lots of notes, cymbals and double bass than to us regular drummers.

I find Steve Gadd's syncopated snare fills in the Buddy Rich drum-off to be more entertaining.

Don't get me wrong, Simon Phillips is in my Top 3 for players, but the solo doesn't do much for me.

BTW, didn't Tommy Lee hold the trademark for upside-down drum solos?

+ 1, Not to be hard on Simon Phillips at all, I think he's an incredible drummer, but, this type of solos are not my thing. It's ok, it is a part of the show and it is intended for the crowd to scream and drive'em crazy, but if I have the chance of choosing to hear them or not, I'd choose no

I went to see Simon Phillips at the UK Drumfest NIA last Sunday (12 / 07/ 09). He shared the gig with Carmine Appice, Jojo Mayer, Gregg Bissonette & Jason Bittner plus a local guy, Robin Day. I've seen Simon play many times both at his clinics and at band gigs (The Who, Toto, Protocol) but never on the same stage as other drumming greats. Carmine Appice was good in a standard rock sort of way with a great stage passion & dynamic. Jason Bittner was a bit bouble bass happy predictable but badly held back by having to use an electric kit. Gregg Bissonette played some fantastic Cuban style stuff that showed him to be the tasteful kit master he is. Jojo Mayer was very inspiring. Amazing left hand ability and a truely innovative session. Apart from Simon Phillips, Robin Day was the star of the show for me. A real down to earth presentation with lots of flair, a different angle & great personality. He was brought in at short notice too so extra impressive. Then along came Simon Phillips. Never have I had the chance to compare his playing with others in such a way. The difference was mind blowing. He really is on a whole different level to other players. This was no stadium solo style show but an incredible display of control, dynamics, musicality & technical skill beyond what you believe to be possible. A truly spine tingling experience. Do I think he's one of the greatest players ever? After that display along side his peers, you bet!

I'm a Simon Phillips fan. I admire his sense of space, control, dynamic & musicallity that he brings to rock music primarily. I'm no jazz drummer. I'm a simple rock player but with an appreciation of many music forms. I'm interested in the opinions of those true jazz players we have in the DW community. Below is a link to a video of Simon playing with Jeff Babko & others. Please take a look and tell me if you think Simon can really play jazz.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5HaHhXB05U